Offered here are signature examples of four extremely prominent and significant nineteenth-century ballplayers, all of whom will continue to merit future consideration by the Baseball Hall of Fame Veteran's Committee: Bobby Lowe (first player to hit four home runs in a game), Dummy Hoy (a deaf mute for whom umpire’s hand signals were adopted and one of the top base stealers of his day), Jack Glasscock (outstanding defensive shortstop and former National League batting champion), and Harry Stovey (premier slugger of his era, led either National League or American Association in home runs on five separate occasions). 1) Bobby Lowe: one-page handwritten letter, penned in blue fountain pen on a sheet of unlined stationery, dated Oct 17, 1941. Lowe writes in full: “Dear Mr. Basenfelder: Hope you will forgive me for the long delay in answering your kind letter of July 26 – It got misplaced and just the other day I ran across it – Am sorry. Sincerely - Robt. L. Lowe.” There is a tiny amount of bleeding to Lowe’s signature, otherwise both the text and signature grade “9/10.” The sheet (8.5 x 11 inches) displays two mailing folds and a few small border tears. In Very Good to Excellent condition. 2) Dummy Hoy: lined index card inscribed in blue ink (“10”), “William ‘Dummy’ Hoy – Born May 23 1862.” The index card (5 x 3 inches) displays tiny mounting remnants on both the left and right borders, otherwise in Near Mint condition. 3) Jack Glasscock: unlined sheet (5 x 3 inches) inscribed in black fountain pen (“10”), “Jack Glasscock – National League 1879-1896.” Ex-Mt. 4) Harry Stovey: 4.5 x 1.75-inch portion of baseball stationery (ball and bat motif along each border) signed by Stovey in green ink (grading "10"). Nr-Mt. Each of the players represented here was considered among the top players of the nineteenth century and we would not be surprised if some, or all of them, were eventually enshrined in Cooperstown. Of the four, Stovey would seem to have the strongest case, based solely on numbers. For the seventeen-year period 1876-1892 Stovey ranked second in runs per game (1.0), third in home runs (122, behind only Roger Connor and Sam Thompson), second in home run percentage (1.99) and fifth in triples (174). He finished his fourteen-year career (1880-1893) with a .288 lifetime average. All of the signatures offered here are considered quite scarce or rare. Stovey passed away in 1937, followed by Glasscock (1947), Lowe (1951) and Hoy (1961, he was ninety-nine at the time of his passing). This is a significant nineteenth century signature collection and one that may someday appreciate substantially depending upon the outcome of future Hall of Fame ballots. LOA from James Spence/JSA. Total: 4 signed items (letter, index card, and two cuts). Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000+.SOLD FOR $2,350.00

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